In a much-changed Liverpool XI - with Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Mario Balotelli and Jordan Henderson dropped to the bench - the Ivorian was one of a number of fringe players to impress as the Reds went down 1-0 to Karim Benzema's first-half strike at the Bernabeu.

The Reds produced arguably their best defensive display of the season with Toure and co ending Cristiano Ronaldo's 13-game scoring streak to leave him still one goal behind Raul's Champions League scoring record of 71.

It was Toure's first start in a competition other than the League Cup since February and his performance earned praise from Rodgers as well as Liverpool legend and Sky pundit Jamie Carragher.

And Toure admits Liverpool's players had been determined to show his worth after being written off as lambs to the slaughter against the European champions.

“I play with my heart and I am ready to fight for my club”

Kolo Toure

“I have missed games like this,” he said.

“I play with my heart and I am ready to fight for my club.

“These are the kind of games you remember all your life. The last game I played here was with Arsenal when we won.

“People were saying we had no chance against Real Madrid but that gave us motivation.

“When you don't play a lot and a manager gives you a chance to show what you can do you give everything you have got.

“That is what happened and that's the way we need to play in every game now. We all showed the manager we will fight.”